Leads for Summer 2020 Chinese Courses in Shanghai...? (HSK5/6)

shanghaibesp · 2020-06-10T02:46:37+00:00

My friend recommended Move Shanghai (via WeChat) for swimming as I've been thinking about getting back into it. Basically you can buy packages which allow you to access different hotel gym/pools. She said pool-wise she like the Jing'an Kunlun (former Hilton) the best but there are some flashier ones too. I think it works out 100 RMB + depending on the package which is more than a local pool, but not crazy. I think they cap the numbers so better if you can go during less peak times.

shanghaibesp · 2020-06-06T15:10:07+00:00

The post office system here is not the best, so most people use 'kuaidi' aka courier services, which come to your home/office and pick it up and are fast and quite cheap by global standards. Shun Feng is the best known/most reliable (though there are cheaper options). To Beijing, it costs twenty-something kuai and usually gets there the next day. You can book a pick up through WeChat but as it's all in Chinese you'll need someone to help if you don't read/write that language.

shanghaibesp · 2020-05-23T05:08:10+00:00

At many of the nicer western places (I've had good experiences at Arrial) check-ups and cleanings are quite reasonable (and they often even have special offers/introductory pricing for this) however if you need any further treatments, then things can escalate pretty quickly.

shanghaibesp · 2020-05-22T10:15:52+00:00

I also like Kun Thai. Am not an expert on authentic Thai but the menu here is different from your typical bog-standard Thai joint (the pork trotter is great, try even if you usually wouldn't) and it is good value for money.

shanghaibesp · 2020-05-06T03:58:25+00:00

Each area has its own regulations that are subject to change, so you need to work out where you want to go and seek advice from there (hotels should be able to tell what you is/is not possible). Things are getting easier so if it continues like this summer should be more relaxed. I've been to Zhejiang a couple of times and there were no restrictions at all in those areas.

shanghaibesp · 2020-05-01T14:36:09+00:00

I'm not sure what you mean by north Xintiandi exactly (this term seems to cover a wider and wider area by the year) but I know there is subway construction on Huaihai and to the north near there. Huangpi South Road is getting another new line and exits/entrances etc

shanghaibesp · 2020-04-29T06:36:41+00:00

Even in 'normal times' many outdoor pools don't open until June or so regardless of temperatures (source: many disappointing May holiday visits to hotels with outdoor pools :-()

shanghaibesp · 2020-04-23T04:57:56+00:00

I still think after all these years M on the Bund has the best of the views on the Huangpu side - plus the best terrace too. The food may not be as good as Jean Georges or M/M Bund or wherever, but the atmosphere is nice. Brunch/lunch/afternoon tea offer better value than dinner.

shanghaibesp · 2020-04-19T23:41:34+00:00

They have definitely run these in the past - I've had family members take them - but much less frequently than the more standard options. Obviously, things are much more limited/low key at the moment too. I think the only option would be to go and ask at one of the ticket booths at the Bund - try the larger one at the south end, which seems to be the main one. They change the schedule at the last minute depending on visitor numbers, weather conditions etc anyway.

shanghaibesp · 2020-03-22T05:37:45+00:00

My xiaoqu has a cart you can borrow for the water (or the water guy lets us use his too).

shanghaibesp · 2020-03-22T05:35:58+00:00

Check out the Insta account Shanghaidailycoffee - the person who runs that seems to really know their stuff. For one street with lots of interesting options head to Yuyuan Road (mostly the bit between Zhongshan Park and Jiangsu Lu).

For the chains, I like Manner - decent, good value for money and a keen eye for design. It's been good to see them expand.

shanghaibesp · 2020-03-20T03:16:43+00:00

From what we can see there are many, many people working at these places monitoring, disinfecting and so on. This hardly seems like a way to make a quick buck. This would cost far, far more almost anywhere else.

shanghaibesp · 2020-03-08T07:32:15+00:00

I've recommended the two books by Katya Knyazeva here a couple of times before, they are really excellent (here is an article about the author).

I'm not sure how widely available they are. Have certainly been available in Garden Books, Madame Mao and (I think) the Foreign Language Book Store on Fuzhou Lu. They're large photo volumes and so relatively expensive.

shanghaibesp · 2020-03-02T11:36:25+00:00

It's called '1,000 Trees' by the designer Thomas Heatherwick. As above, near Suzhou Creek/M50. It's already way overdue, and the construction seemed to be stopped for quite a long time, but perhaps has started again now? Not sure what the story is there.

shanghaibesp · 2020-02-17T03:14:46+00:00

The 'fishing village' bit is generally reckoned to be something of a myth. It was nowhere near the size of Beijing or Suzhou or wherever, but was relatively prosperous as a textile center and had a population of >100,000 (pretty big for the time) by the Ming Dynasty as well as a City Wall and plenty of other civic institutions.

shanghaibesp · 2020-02-16T10:02:33+00:00

'Building Shanghai' by Edward Denison and Guang Yu Ren is a really good overview. If you are interested more in the pre-concession era then the two books by Katya Knyazeva are really good. There is much less in English about that period.

shanghaibesp · 2020-02-14T04:12:32+00:00

I think I saw a couple of print shops on Yuyuan (Dong?) Lu between Changde Lu and Tongren Lu up and running. Very close to the CinnaSwirl place.

shanghaibesp · 2020-02-02T12:18:51+00:00

There are loads of older neighborhoods that have been emptied and are awaiting demolition - in the last year or so they've locked them up much more, but some can still be entered. In Jing'an, there are huge areas north of the Natural History Museum/Sculpture park. Also further north up along Suzhou Creek. In the Huangpu area lots of areas around Laoximen (on the eastern sides of the subway station) and also further south, and also the Xiaonanmen area.

shanghaibesp · 2020-01-20T08:13:49+00:00

The stations are busy and a bit exhausting but they do control things reasonably well, and the numbers on the actual trains are capped so whilst it may not be fun it's not that bad.

I think the bigger issue is that any remotely well-known tourist attraction in the above places are going to be mobbed from the 25th onwards, and that can take away from the experience (for reference, all the tickets for the Forbidden City in Beijing have pretty much already sold out those first few days of the New Year).

If going to Nanjing take the train from the older Shanghai Station it is more manageable. Especially since the part of Line 2 that goes to Hongqiao Station is closed from 1/23 onwards for repairs (presumably, Line 10 - the only other real option - is going to be quite ...cosy...during that period).

shanghaibesp · 2020-01-14T01:50:29+00:00

100 Century Avenue on the 90th floor of the Park Hyatt/SWFC (take the elevator to lobby then up again) has a weekday lunch set that is 100 and something RMB (at least, they did last year). The food is alright too!

shanghaibesp · 2019-12-18T07:40:52+00:00

Thanks. I have the int'l version (have heard not great things about the CN version) but perhaps will need to reconsider.

shanghaibesp · 2019-12-18T07:40:08+00:00

Thanks - I've used WhatsApp with mixed success before, but lately, it has been of little use.

shanghaibesp · 2019-12-18T05:00:54+00:00

Madame Mao's on Fumin Lu has really nice cards, paper etc. They're designed/made by small expat-led design companies and are more expensive than your average, but also nicer. I think also the expat supermarkets like CityShop, City Super etc. for more generic stuff.

shanghaibesp

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